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Monday, January 18, 2016

Robbery suspect released from hospital, charged in shooting

The Little Rock Police Department said that Joshua Williams, 17, of Cabot was released from a hospital today and then taken to police headquarters for processing on charges of robbery, attempted capital murder, battery and aggravated assault in a robbery and shootout Jan. 9 at the Red Lobster on West Markham Street.

Robbers exchanged gunshots that night with Shawn Bakr, a Little Rock patrol officer working as a private security guard at the restaurant. Bakr suffered a wound to his shoulder. Williams and another suspect were arrested the night of the robbery, Joshua Williams when officers responded to a call from a nearby home about someone with a gunshot wound.

The latest numbers from the Department of Human Services show thousands more people did not meet the reporting requirement on work hours in July to meet Medicaid eligibility standards.

Vincent Tolliver, a candidate for Little Rock, mayor, has written legislators asking the Senate Education Committee to ask Education Commissioner Johnny Key to testify about problems encountered by parents on Monday, the first day of school in the state-run Little Rock School District.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson and 2nd District U.S. Rep. French Hill have refused to participate in TV debates scheduled in September.

Chintan Desai, the Democratic candidate for 1st District Congress, just dropped by with some news: An endorsement, a debate date and a celebrity visitor for his Republican incumbent opponent, Rep. Rick Crawford.

A lawsuit was filed today in the federal court for the District of Columbia challenging Arkansas's work requirement for many Medicaid recipients.

Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights legend, will visit Little Rock Sunday afternoon for a fund-raiser for state Rep. Clarke Tucker, the Democratic candidate for 2nd District Congress against Republican Rep. French Hill.